THE biggest domestic rallycross meeting of the year took place last weekend when Croft Circuit hosted the final round of the Odyssey Battery MSA British Rallycross Championship, as well as the Procter's Coaches MSA British Grand Prix, but there wasn’t much joy for the healthy local contingent.

The Supercar class title had already been decided, but the runner-up spot was still up for grabs on Saturday, with Northallerton’s Dave Bellerby in with a shout in his Fuchs Lubricants-backed Ford Fiesta. The multiple British champion, in his debut season in the Supercar class, had a good run through the heats and semi-final, but a split intercooler in the final saw him limp home in fourth to also finish fourth in the title race.

Kevin Procter, from Leeming, set fastest time in two of the heats in his Procter’s Luxury Coaches-backed Ford Fiesta. But, after winning the semi-final, he suffered from mechanical problems in the final, a legacy of damage sustained in the initial running before it was red-flagged after just a lap. In the re-run, he could do no better than fifth, meaning he couldn’t repeat his opening round victory at his local track back in March.

Making a rare appearance was Scotch Corner engineer Tony Bardy in the ex-Procter Ford Focus. He claimed runner-up place in the semi-final before ending up sixth in the final. "Mad" Mark Watson, from Barnard Castle, failed to finish any of the qualifying races after a string of problems in his Mend-A-Hose-sponsored Citroen Xsara.

In the MSA Supernational Rallycross Championship, both Guy Corner, from East Harlsey, and Northallerton’s Paige Bellerby missed out on the title despite their best efforts. Bellerby won all three of her heats in the Fuchs Titan Race-backed Lotus Exige before a broken driveshaft ruled the 20-year-old out of the semi-final when leading. Corner performed consistently with a trio of second places in the heats and in the semi-final, but a repeat result in the MB Groundworks-backed Peugeot 206 in the final wasn’t enough for him to beat the champion, Tony Lynch, who won the race.

Comeback racer Joe Cunningham, from Bedale, was impressive on his debut in the Swift Signs/Coach2.com-sponsored Vauxhall VX220 but, following a superb victory in the semi-final, a blown head gasket ended his hopes for the weekend. Northallerton’s Darren Grimston suffered clutch failure during practice, which ruled the Electrocare-backed Vauxhall Nova out for the day.

In the MSA Junior Championship, Richmond teenager Tom Constantine battled his way through the heats in his CBS-backed Suzuki Swift, but could only manage second place in the final, meaning he lost out on the championship by just two points, while Jarrow’s Michael Boak took the victory in the Super1600 class in his Citroen C2.

The Suzuki Swift Championship saw Andrew Hawkes, from Stockton, claim eighth place in the final, while Brompton-on-Swale driver Fraser Robertson, more used to racing Ginetta GT4s in the British Touring Car support races, came home fifth in the semi-final, just failing to qualify. Also making his debut in the sport was Northallerton stock car racer Paul Prest, who suffered engine problems before a battling performance in the semi-final to claim sixth. Romanby 18-year-old Drew Bellerby had a good run through the heats in her Fuchs Titan Race-sponsored car before a broken clutch sidelined her when well-placed in the semi-final.

There was some success in the BMW Mini class when Teessider Martin Hawkes brought his Hawkes Fire-backed S1600 to a superb victory, with multiple champion David Bell, from Ferryhill, in third position. Stockton’s Jennie Hawkes battled well to finish fourth, while the Ripon trio of Kris and Keifer Hudson and Frankie Helliwell all retired.

Sunday dawned damp and windy, but it didn’t deter a very large crowd from attending the annual Grand Prix. They were rewarded with some superb action.

But there was disappointment as the best of the locals was Kevin Procter, who ended up in fourth place in the Grand Prix A final after fighting his way through the field following a stall on the line. Brother-in-law Dave Bellerby was holding third place and looking good for a podium when he suffered a mechanical problem and retired with a lap to go.

Michael Boak had qualified as the only two-wheel drive car in the GP A final and, despite retiring, he won the trophy for best in 2WD as a result. Tony Bardy had qualified for the A final by placing fourth in the B final despite crossing the line minus a front wheel, but the damage was too severe for the TBM team to rectify in the short period between the races. Guy Corner and Paige Bellerby finished seventh and eighth in the B final, with Paige being the best of the rear-wheel drive competitors in the very difficult and muddy conditions.

Keifer Hudson claimed fourth in the C final, with both David Bell and Mark Watson retiring, the latter after dominating the D final only for his wretched luck to return and end in retirement with broken steering. Drew Bellerby drove a great race to end up fifth in the D final as Frankie Helliwell retired, but Fraser Robertson, Paul Prest and Kris Hudson all failed to qualify as they were outside the top 32 to progress into the finals.

A physical encounter saw Tom Constantine miss out on the podium of the Junior GP when he crossed the line in fourth, but there was better fortune in the Retro GP. Darren Grimston won the B final to progress to the A final, in which Stokesley’s Stewart Bowes took his Mini to second place overall, winning his class in the process, ahead of Durham driver Lance Foster, who finished fifth overall and second in class in his Mini.

Grimston finished seventh, while the Great Broughton father and son team of Terry and Neil Maynard finished second and fourth respectively in their Triumph TR8s. Middlesbrough driver Jordan Bowes retired his VW Golf during the heats.

Meanwhile, the Rainworth Skoda Dukeries Rally took place at Donington Park, in Leicestershire, and saw the Northallerton pair of Graeme Bell and Russ Radford claim runner-up spot in their Twin Services-backed 2.5-litre MEM Millington Proton, with the Saltburn duo of Ian and Nick Colman finishing 19th in their Nissan Sunny GTi-R.